Dallas, Dallas County
Famed Texas architect O’Neil Ford (1905-1982) and his partner, Arch Swank, designed this home in 1939 for Alfred Lionel (1889-1975) and Juanita Hazel (1902-1999) Bromberg. Alfred was born to Isaac and Belle (Mayer) Bromberg, a prominent Jewish family who belonged to Dallas’ Temple Emanu-El. Juanita, the daughter of Irvin and Mae Kramer, made her social debut in 1923 at the Columbian Club, and married Alfred there in 1924. They had one son, Alan (1928-2014). The Brombergs are best remembered for their promotion of Dallas’ art scene. Juanita was a founding member of the Dallas Print and Drawing Society and held leadership roles in Dallas’ Little Theater. The couple donated over 200 prints to the Dallas Museum of Fine Art, resulting in successful exhibitions. For their home, the Brombergs chose a rural setting on ten acres, which paired well with Ford’s still-burgeoning rustic Texas regionalism. Ford and Swank utilized indigenous materials throughout, including native stone and brick, as well as exposed wood beams. The house was oriented to take advantage of prevailing breezes. The home embodies modernist ideals, such as a focus on horizontal design, and encompasses two main parts in the main home and the garage. Its brick rectilinear form when built was one room deep with large windows and placed an emphasis on outdoor living spaces. The common red brick was originally whitewashed. The main house features a low-pitched gabled roof with chimneys at each end. The house is an enduring jewel of the signature Texas regionalist style pioneered by O’Neil Ford. RECORDED TEXAS HISTORIC LANDMARK – 2023